Utility bucket



y 6, 1958 F. A. PETERS 2,832,984

UTILITY BUCKET Filed Aug. 10. 1956 INVENTOR. 48 RANCJS A- PETEEE f 1 BY 2E ATTQENEYS United States Patent O UTILITY BUCKET Francis A. Peters, Pittsfield, Mass.

Application August 10, 1956, Serial No. 603,309

2 Claims. (Cl. 15-264) This invention relates generally to cleaning apparatus, and more particularly to an improved bucket, especially but not exclusively for use in car-washing, the bucket being compartmented to hold cleaning solution, sponges, brushes, and the like isolated from each other, and being constructed to serve as a step enabling a washer to reach and operate upon the roof of a car.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a practical and eflicient device of this kind, which reduces the time and effort usually required in washing a car, which is simple in construction, and which can be made in rugged and serviceable forms at relatively low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bucket according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary and contracted horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and v Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the illustrated bucket, generally designated 10, can be constructed of any suitable material, such as aluminum, for example, so that the bucket is readily portable.

The bucket 40 is elongated rectangular in shape and comprises opposed side Walls 14 and 16, and end walls 18 and 20. A peripheral inwardly directed bottom or base flange 22 is on the lower edges of said walls, and increases the rigidity and strength of the bucket. Suitably secured to and extending between the end walls 18 and 20 and in inwardly spaced relationship to the side walls 14 and 16, are longitudinal partition panels 24 and 26, having lower edges 12 and 13, spaced upwardly from the bottom flange 22. A bottom wall 48 is secured to the lower edges 12 and 13 of the partition panels 24 and 26 and to the end walls 18 and 20. Extending between and secured to the facing sides of the sidewalls 14 and 16 and of the longitudinal partition panels 24 and 26, respectively, are vertically spaced upper and lower reinforcing struts 28 and 29.

Secured on the upper edges of the side walls 14 and 16 and of the panels 24 and 26, and on the upper edges of the end walls 18 and 20, are plates 30 and 32, respectively, which have suitably secured on the upper surfaces thereof treads 34 and 36, respectively,'of rubber or any other anti-skid material.

Extending between and secured to the facing sides of the longitudinal panels 24 and 26 and inwardly spaced from and near to the related end walls 18 and 20, respectively, are transverse partition panels 38 and 40 which define upwardly opening end compartments 42 and 46,

for receiving sponges, brushes, chamois cloths, and the like, and a main compartment 44 for such as car-washing solution. The portions of the bottom wall 48 beneath the compartments 42 and 46 have therein pluralities of drain holes 50.

The end walls18 and 20 have notches 52 and 54, respectively, in their upper edges, between the longitudinal partition panels 24 and 26, on which are secured reclining O-shaped handles 56 and 58, respectively. The upper edges of the handles are disposed below the upper surfaces of the treads 34, 36, as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2, for example.

The described bucket can be readily utilized as a foot stool or step for reaching and cleaning the roof of a car by standing on either or both of the treads 34, 36 at the a same time that a supply of cleaning solution is handily within reach from the bucket.

The foregoing is considered to be illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combined bucket and support comprising a rectangular body having longitudinal side walls having upper and lower edges, transverse end walls secured to related ends of the side walls and having upper and lower edges, a pair of longitudinal partition panels extending between said end walls and laterally inwardly spaced from said side walls, said longitudinal panels having upper edges on a level with the upper edges of the side and end walls and lower edges spaced upwardly from the lower edges of the side and end walls, a bottom wall secured to the lower edges of said longitudinal panels and extending between said longitudinal panels and between said end walls, and being unextended to said side walls, transverse partition panels extending between said longitudinal panels and said bottom wall at points spaced inwardly from and near said end walls, said bottom wall, said transverse panels, said longitudinal panels and subtended portions of the end walls defining a main central compartment and a pair of end compartments, reinforcing struts extending between said side walls and said longitudinal panels, plates secured on the upper edges of and extending between said longitudinal panels and said side walls and subtended portions of the upper edges of the end walls, said plates having upper surfaces, and non-skid treads on and secured to said upper surfaces.

2. A combined bucket and support comprising a rectangular body having longitudinal side walls having upper and lower edges, transverse end walls secured to related ends of the side walls and having upper and lower edges, 9. pair of longitudinal partition panels extending between said end walls and laterally inwardly spaced from said side walls, said longitudinal panels having upper edges on a level with the upper edges of the side and end walls and lower edges spaced upwardly from the lower edges of the side and end walls, a bottom wall secured to the lower edges of said longitudinal panels and extending between said longitudinal panels and between said end walls, transverse partition panels extending between said longitudinal panels and said bottom wall at points spaced inwardly from and near said end walls, said bottom wall, said transverse panels, said longitudinal panels and subtended portions of the end walls defining a main central compartment and a pair of end compartments, reinforcing struts extending between said side walls and said longitudinal panels, plates secured on the upper edges of and extending between said longitudinal panels and said side wells and subtended portions of the upper edges of the end Walls, said plates having upper surfaces, and nonskid treads on and secured to said upper surfaces, said bottom being devoid of a bottom wall at the lower edges of its Walls, and an inwardly extending base flange on and 5 extending around the lower edges of the body walls.

Wehrneier et a1 Mar. 28, 1905 Berlant June 5, 1956 

